Preparation for Activity

Retrieve the group's River Scene, if it is not already posted where the group can work on it. Set up work areas where participants can create either directly on the River Scene or on drawing paper to attach the mural.

Optional: If this is the first time the group will work on the River Scene, read Workshop 1, Activity 2. Identify where you can leave the River Scene mural posted or store it between workshops. Obtain the materials and supplies you will need and plan how you will incorporate the start-up into today's activity. You might ask some participants to begin the River Scene and invite others to add the bathroom signs suggested for this workshop.

Optional: Choose quiet, instrumental music or songs with a water theme (see Music Suggestions in Find Out More). Set up a music player.

Description of Activity

Participants continue creation of the River Scene, begun in Workshop 1, Activity 2.

Invite participants to add signs to the River Scene directing people to bathrooms. Say something like:

We're going to add to our River Scene now. We made drawings to show human activities on the banks of the river. We have added fish, reptiles and land animals. After learning today how important it is to not pollute water sources, we will make signs to bathrooms. Where should the bathroom signs point? To the river or away from the river? (Affirm: Away from the river.) You have about ten minutes to make your creation.

Playing quiet music during this activity may help participants focus. With a few minutes remaining, invite participants to clean up. Then gather the group and ask volunteers to show what they have made.

Invite all to look at the River Scene for a minute while you offer ideas like these:

Imagine you live upstream beside this river. If you get into a rowboat or canoe you can float along and see all the wonderful places and people and animals along the banks. You can see fish swimming around in the water. You can see the signs asking you to use the bathrooms available instead of polluting the river with human waste. Let's stand or sit quietly for a moment, and see if we can feel a real sense of connection, maybe a spiritual connection, with the life in and around the river.

Including All Participants

Provide a variety of work spaces so that people with varied abilities can work easily and comfortably. If standing and attaching their work to the river scene is challenging for some, let them work with partners who can help display their creations.

Not everyone is comfortable making drawings. You can suggest some participants cut out magazine pictures to attach to the mural or enhance the river with blue paper or crepe paper. Avoid extravagant praise as well as critiques of participant contributions-affirm all who help shape the River Scene.